In the last two years the garden I visited in August 2016 has flourished under its owner’s tender care. June is a great time to see apricots and peaches in this now luxuriant orchard.
The Provençal garden revisited
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Category Archives: Garden
How not to prune a tree
As we are in the most active part of the winter pruning season for apple and pear trees in France, we look at an example of bad pruning and its consequences, in particular the growth of unfruitful ‘watershoots’.
News: From Kroměříž to Versailles
I have planned to visit the Potager du Roi in Versailles this weekend. Another orchard created for a European reigning figure of the 17th century to be renovated, which I am keen to discover after my visit to Kroměříž in Moravia in October. Continue reading
Summer thoughts
How can a garden be taken care of when its owners are away on a summer holiday? Here are a few words on a question which will require further investigation.
Cherry time
Being guided through the cherry collection at Brogdale last week felt like being transported into an Eden of colours, shapes and tastes.
Sharing graft wood
The ‘Croqueurs de Pommes du Cantal’1 is a charity that lists and protects local fruit cultivars; its members exchange scions to graft new trees. I put myself to the test: would I be able to participate and provide scions from our trees?
Pears, hornets and pebbles
In September I attempted to stop hornets from eating our pears… with pebbles. The improvised solution worked rather well, without damaging the pears.
It is a good idea to put sheep in an orchard to graze and fertilize. Be aware that they love pears though.
Fruit trees planted in January 2014, vines in the autumn, Gilbert’s garden near Aubagne in Provence looks quite mature already. “Stunning results”, the amateur gardener told me this summer.
Les Jardins d'ici 